Gas range



3 Sheets-Sheet l j@ JQ J. E. HIRES GAS RANGE Filed sept. i13, 1922 Jan, 27,

| l i l I l l l l l l l WITNESS Jan, 27, 1925.

J. E. HRES GAS RANGE Filed Sept. 13, 1922 3 SheetS-She'et 2 i. (u Y,

w1 r/vEss @MM HTTORNEY-S Jan, 27, 1925. 1,524,395

J. E. HIRES GAS RANGE Filed Sept. 13, 1922 5 SheetslShe'et 3 l #l1/1111111111111, 'III /NVENTOR' y@ 57@ f@ WIT/V555 BY (I M Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

unirse 4sritrri-zs 1,524,395 YP.A""IE'NT OFFICE.

JOHN EDGAR HIB/ES, 0F LANGHGRNE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSlGNOR T0 JOSEPH P.

KERRIGAN, OFPI-IILADELPHIA, IPE-NNSYLVLANIA.

GAS RANGE.

Application filed September 13, 1822.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOI-1N EDGAR Hnms, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Langhorne,iin the county of Bucks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Ranges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a gas rangesuitable for domestic purposes and embodying means whereby cooking may be accomplished on the top of the range in the ordinary manner, an oven suitable for baking, and a chamber, which for convenience I designate the broiler chamber, intended for broiling or other' culinary operations in which it is desired to subject the article being cooked to the direct, lor substantially direct, action of the flames `from the burners, yand to so design and correlate the various instruinentalities employed as to facilitate the utilization of the range in the performance of various culinary Afunctions with a minimum expenditure of fuel.

Further objects of my invention are the provision in a range embodying the fore going characteristics, of a plurality of Vburners adapted to be so positioned that the heat therefrom may be respectively directed either upwardly or downwardly as may be desired thereby facilitating the use ofthe range in the operations of cooking on the top thereof or of broiling in the compartment primarily intended for that purpose.

A further object is the provision of means in the preferred embodiment of the invention whereby the products of combustion generated by the burners may be caused to pass directly into the smoke pipe or in the alternative directed about and into the oven and from thence intothe smoke pipe, as well as an auxiliary burner so positioned with respect to the main burners and to the oven as to supplement the heat generated by the main burners when desired so as to permit the oven to be raised to a required temperature in a very short period ot time, the said auxiliary burner being further adapted to thereafter maintain the desired oven temperature without material recourse to the main burners.

A still further object of my invention is Serial No. 587,875.

to provide a passage for thektravel ofthe products of combustion free from fpockets or by-passages which l have foundcause marked decrease in the temperature, and consequent loss of eiiciency.

The invention further contemplates a novel method of directing the course of travel ofthe air requisite `to support c0mbustion with respect `to Ithe burners ofthe range including the arrangement of the ports for the admission of the air in s-uch manner that after the air is drawn -therethrough it will pass throughone of the main burners and thence over landadjacent another of the burners where the air and products of combustion generated at the first burner are raised to a still higher temperature, thence passing over the auxiliary burner and into the oven thereby insuring, with a `minimum expenditure of gas, the raising of the products of combustion to a high temperature before passing to `or about the oven.

The foregoing as well as various other objects and novel features of construction and arrangement comprehended by my invention will be more fully apparent from the following description ofa preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the drawings forming a part hereof.

In the said drawings inwhich, as hitherto stated, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the range substantially on line 1-1 in Fig. 2, certain parts, for convenience of illustration, being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 a similar section on line thereof. Fig. el is a top plan view of one `of the main burners removed from the range; Fig. 5 a section thereof on line 5 5 in Fig. 4;; and Fig. 6 a front elevation thereof. Like numerals areused to designate the same parts in the several figures.

As shown, the range comprisesa rectangular base l either adapted to rest directly on the floor in the manner illustrated or to be supported on suitable feet or To this base is suitably secured a rear wall 2 and end walls 3 and 4 formed of sheet metal, the walls f2 and i3 terminating at a suitable height to support the horizontally disposed range top G, preferably il i) tioned toward the front of the top Vand adapted to be closed with suitable stove lids in the ordinary manner. If desired the top may also be provided with corresponding holes positioned more nearly adjacent the rear thereof, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, at 8', and with an extension or shelt 9 removably secured thereto.

The wall l is continued upwardly beyond the top 6 for a suitable distance to extend above the baking oven, generally designated as 10, and is joined to the top wall 12`which extends horizontally over the chamber in which theV oven is disposed and, in turn, is joined to a vertically extending wall 13 which forms the opposite side of the oven chamber and terminates at the right lhand end of the top 6 when viewed as in Fig. 1. It will thus be observed that in the `torm of the invention illustrated, the range top is disposed at the left hand end of the range when viewed as in Fig. 1, and that the oven, hereinafter more particularly described, is located ina suitable chamber at the right hand end of the range and above the plane of the top, but it will of course be readily understood that the relative positions or' the oven and the top may be reversed so that the former will be disposed at the left hand end o' the range and the latter at the right hand.

Beneath the range top and adjacent the front of the range is arranged the broiler chamber, generally designated as 15, the said chamber being bounded by a bottom 16, rear wall 17, and ends 18, which latter, together with the rear wall, extend upwardly from the bottom, which may be disposed at any suitable height, to terminate at the horizontally disposed burner plate 20. This plate, conveniently formed of cast iron, is disposed at a suitable distance below the top 6 and arranged to extend from the end wall 3 to substantially the plane of the wall 13 and entirely across the upper end of the broiler chamber so that in elect it forms a top therefor. This plate is urther provided with laterally spaced, pret'- erably circular burner openings respectively arranged beneath the holes 7 and 8, and adapted for the reception of the main burners, hereinafter more particularly described. It desired a lining plate 17' may be disposed adjacent the rear wall 17 of the broiler chamber and forwardly spaced therefrom thereby providing a dead air space forming a heat insulator at the rear of the broiler chamber, while from the upper edge of the wall 17, a plate 23 is extended rearwardly and preterably slightly angularly upward to meet the rear wall 2 of the body of the range thereby cutting o' the space in the rear wall.

of the broiler chamber from the space beneath the rear part of the top as clearly shown in Fig. 2. I have found that by disposing the plate 23 with a delinite inclination from front to rear, a considerably greater temperature is imparted to the super-posed portion of the top and a more even and efficient circulation of the heated air and products of combustion in their pas sage from the main burners to the fiue 53, hereinafter described, is ei'ected than if the said plate is horizontally disposed. lf desired a plate 23' may be secured to the under side of plate 23 and spaced therefrom in parallel relation therewith so as to r0- vide a dead air space and minimize ieat radiation through the plate 23 into the space behind the broiler.

The front of the stove beneath the broiler oven is provided with a transversely extending plate 2Ll to which is hinged, as at 25, a suitable door 26 through which access may be had to the broiler oven, this door being arranged to close against a plate 23 extending from the upper edge of the door to the underside ol the top G and for substantially the length of the latter, while the spaces between these plates at the ends of the broiler oven are also permanently closed by suitable vertically plates, not shown.

The main oven 10 hitherto referred to, comprises a preferably substantially rectangular box or casing, open at its front side and having a bottom 32, end walls 33 and 34, a top 35 and a rear wall 36, the size olI the oven being such that when disposed in the chamber formed for its reception in the upper part of the range, it is spaced from the walls of that chamber so as to leave spaces 37 and 38 adjacent the end walls of the oven, a space 39 adjacent its top wall and a space 4() adjacent its rear The functions of certain of these spaces will hereinafter more fully appear. In the form of the invention shown, the chamber in which the oven is disposed is provided with double outer walls, formed by placing a lining plate or wall 2 adja cent and inwardly spaced from the rear wall 2, and similar plates #1', 12 and 13' respectively adjacent and inwardly spaced from the walls 4, 12 and 13, thus provid ing heat insulating air spaces at the ends, back and top of the oven chamber.

The top 35 of the oven proper is extended laterally beyond the ends of the oven to meet the lining walls 4', 13 and thus close the upper ends of the s aces 37 and 38, while the rear wall 36 of t le oren, is carried upwardly to meet the lining wall 12', as clearly shown in F ig. 3. The-front or open end of the oven is provided with a door 4t2, conveniently hinged at 43, while a Suitable plate or plates, generally desigextending lll() till nated as 45, are arranged to pern'ianently close the front of the spaces between the edges of the door and the Walls of the range proper.

The chamber in which the oven is positioned is provided with a bottom plate 50 conveniently arranged in prolongation of the burner plate 2O and in the space beneath this plate and above the base may be arranged a plurality of shelves al and 52 convenient for the reception of dishes and other articles. ln order to provide a flue 53 for the conduct of the pro-ducts of com bustion from the space between the burner plate and the range top, an upwardly inclined tine plate 54 is arranged above the plate 50 to extend from a point adjacent the burner plate to the lining plate 4', the Width of this flue plate fron'r front to back being conveniently substantially equal to the depth of the oven and its inclination such that its point of contact With the lining plate il is substantially in the plane of the bottom of lthe oven. 'd vertical parti tion, 56, is arranged adjacent the rear end of the flue plate, While a horizontal. partition 5'? is disposed in the rear of the Wall 36 at the bottom of the space or flue l() so as to completely close the same. It is to be noted l have found that an inclined disposition of the flue plate 54 is of marked advantage in etleeting a free and even flow of the heated air and products of combustion and in avoiding the .setting up of eddy currents and dead gas spaces With consequent eil fects inimical to maximum heating` elli ciency. Y

lt will be understood that certain of the Walls and partitions heretofore described are provided with suitable ports to permit the passage of air to thefburners and the products of combustion from the burners and the arrangement and location of these ports Will nonT be described. For admitting air for the purpose of supporting combustion, the Wall 3 and the Wall 18, are provided with a plurality of ports G0 of suitable size, through which air from the exterior of the range can pass into the broiler chamber and from thence. up through one of the main burners, hereinafter more particularly described, and along the space between the top 6 and the burner plate. Upon leaving this space as indicated by the arrows, the products of combustion pass into the line 53 formed between the bottom of the oven and the flue plate 54 and Would "thence, in the absence of any detlecting means, find their Way upwardly, for the most part, through the space or flue 37, thence through ports 62 provided in the extended portions of the top plate of the oven, thence through an elongated port 63 in the upper part of the rear wall of the oven and into the smoke pipe, generally designated asl G5, which is arranged to communicate with the space 4() at the rear of the oven. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, however, in orderto control the movement of the products of combustion and deflect them in such manner as Will cause them to pass about and through the oven when desired, I may provide a damper 70, horizontally disposed and extending from. front to back in the space 37. This damper is controlled through the medium of a handle Tl from the exterior of the range in such r-.i'ianner that it may be turned to a position, as shown in lFig. l in full lines, in which it "ill cut otl' the passage of the gases to the upper part of the space 3l' and deflect a portion of them into the oven through vertically spaced rows of ports Z3 formed adjacent the loiver part of the end Wall 83, While under such conditions another part of the gases Will pass through the flue. 53 above the flue plate 5st and thence through correspondingI rows of ports ist in the Wall 3ft into the oven from the opposite side, a permanent deflector 7 5 being arranged above the ports 74 so as to prevent these gases passing upwardly into theupper'part of the space 3S. Asthe rear wall 36 ol' the oven is provi-ded near its upper extremity with a row of ports 7T givingy access to the upper part of the line and the top Wall of the oven With other ports 78 giving access to the space 39, the-heated gases which enter the oven through ports?) and 74 are enabled to find their Way into the smoke pipe G5, either through the ports 77 or the ports T8 and G3, as will be readily apparent from the course of the arrows in the dran'- ing. Preferably, there are disposed upon the plate 35 and inclined upwardly and inwardly in the space 39, a pluralitY ofV detleeting plates 8O which to some extent assist in properlydirectinfr the course of the gases to the smoke pipe.`

It will, of course` be understood that the main oven and broiler oven are preferably provided with suitable brackets 8l secured to their end Walls to afford support. for shelves in the usual manner and that if desired the stove top (l may beI enclosed or partially enclosed bv a hood or canopy generally designated as S5, detailed description of which, however, is deemed unnecessary.

The range is provided with a plurality of suitable burners, comprising main burners and an auxiliary burner, the former preferably being made reversible, so that the heat therefrom may be directed. downwardly into the broiler chamber or upwardly toward the topi@ at will. Moreparticularly referring to Figs. a to 6 inclusive in which a preferred form of burner intended for use. in the opening; in the lnirner plate more nearly adjacent the oven: is illustratech the same comprises substantially an annular closed body 91 provided in its upper space with a plurality of radiating series of jets 92, and With a duct 93 leading to the interior ofthe body and through which the gas passes to the jets. The burner is enlarged in the vicinity of the outer end of the duct as at 94 to provide a cylindrical boss which, when the burner is in piosition, extends through the plate 28, the outer end of the duct being partially closed by the ported air regulating plate 95, held in adjusted position by a set screw 96. Through the center of the plate vis extended one end of the gas control cock 97, the other end of which communicates with a manifold 98 extending across the front of the range and connected with a suitable source of gas supply.A The burner is also provided at a position diametrically opposite the boss 94 with an arm, 99, terminating in a cylindrical boss 100 which, when the burner is in position, is adapted to extend through suitable apertures in the plates 17 and 1T to afford support to the burner that point. For effecting the inversion of the burner the boss 94 may be provided with a conveniently positioned handle 101 while a lug 102 is so arranged as to contact with a suitably positioned stop member or members so as to hold the burner either in upright position, as shown in the drawings, or in inverted position so as to direct the heat downwardly into the broiler chamber. The diameter of the body of the burner is preferably such as to permit the burner to tit quite snugly in the aperture designed for its reception'in the burner plate so that little or no air is enabled to pass adjacent this burner from the broiler chamber to the space above the burner plate when the burner is in upright position.

The burner 90 employed adjacent the ports 60, however, is arranged in such manner that the air drawn into the said ports may readily pass through the burner and into the space above the burner plate and to this end the webs between the radiating series of jets are cut away in the ordinary manner so as to provide al spider-like burner which in all other respects is, however, substantially similar to the burner 90 hitherto described. It will thus be observed when this burner 90 is in upright position, air from the portsGO may readily pass therethrough and thence over the burner 90 which latter burner tends to raise the' temperature of the pre-heated gases and products of combustion to a considerably greater degree before they pass to the vicinity of the oven. I also prefer to provide an auxiliary burner 105 conveniently comprising a horizontally positioned, transversely extending pipe having a plurality of jets 106, arranged substantially at the large end of the flue 53 in such position that when lighted it is effective to additionally heat the gases and produc-ts of combustion from the main burners as they pass into the flue. This burner is fed from the manifold 98 and controlled through the medium of a valve 10T in the usual manner. It is found in practice, that by the utilization of this burner in conjunction with the main burners` the oven may be very rapidly brought to a baking temperature and that thereafter, one or both of the main burners may be shut ofi' and the oven maintained at a sufliciently high temperature for most culinary operations by the use of the auxiliary burner alone.

It will be noted that in a range of this character utensils may be disposed on the top 6, either directly over the burners or more in the rear thereof for slower cooking and that unless the lids are removed the utensils are not exposed to the direct action of the burner flames, while all of the air necessary to support combustion is drawn through a single row of ports and when the burners are in upright position passed through one of them and then additionally heated by another and if desired by the auxiliary burner before. reaching the vicinity of the oven. the damper assisting in directing the hot gases either through the oven and thence into the sinoke pipe or niore directly into the latter should it be desired` while by effecting an inversion of one or both ofthe main burners, the flames therefrom may be directed downwardly toward any article disposed in the broiler oven for the purpose of broiling the saine the heat thence passing upwardly and into the flue 53.

It has also been found in practice that the method of heating the air and gases by passing the same through one burner and then over another, and then employing these highly heated gases and products of. coinbustion in and about the oven results in a large saving of fuel and an entirely satisfactory operation of the oven, while by the use of the auxiliary burner positioned so as to additionally heat all ot' the gases before they reach the vicinity of the oven, thel teinperature of the latter may be very quickly brought to the requisite degree and thereafter maintained with one or more of the inain burners entirely closed Oil".

lVhile I have herein described and illustrated with particula-rity a preferred elnbodimeut of my invention, it will be understood that the same is capable of numerous modifications in construction, design and arrange` ment of parts and I therefore do not thereby desire or intend to limit myself specifically to the precise forni of the invention so illustrated and described` as suitable modifications and changes may be made therein if desired without 'departing from the spirit and scopeiot the invention `as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described `my invention, what l claim and desire to protect by Letters Patentis:

l. A gas range comprising a top, a burner plate disposed beneath and` spaced from said top, a plurality of invertible burners adjacent said plate, a broiler oven beneath the burners,` a baking oven disposed above and. at one Vside ot said top, a flue beneath said baking oven communicating with the space betiveen the burner plate and the top, an auxiliary burner disposed substantially at the junction of said flue and said space, `and means beneath said burner plate and in the ivall ot' said broiler oven adapted to admit air to said oven to support combustion in said burners.

2. A gas range comprising a top, an apertured burner plate disposed beneath and spaced from said top, a'bi'oiler oven positioned beneath said burner plate, main burn ers disposed adjacent the apertures in said plate, only one of said burners being adapted to permit the passage o'l" a substantial volume ot airA therethrough, a broiler oven disposed beneath said burners, ports in the Wall of said oven for admitting air `thereto and thence through saidlburner, a baking oven disposed vabove and at one side of said top, and a flue extending beneath saidoven and communicating with the space between said top and said burner plate.

3. A gas range comprising a top, an apertured burner plate beneath the top, a plurality of main burners disposed adjacent the apertures in said plate, one o't said burners being adapted to permit the passage of a substantial volume of air therethrough and another of said burners beingsubstanti- `ally closed against the passage of air, means beneath said burners adapted to admit air from the exterior of the range to support combustion at said burners, a baking oven disposed above and at one side of said top, a flue beneath said baking over communicating with the space between said top and said burner plate, and means in the Walls of said baking oven adapted to permit the entrance from said flue of the heated air and the products of combustion generated at said burners.

4. A gas range comprising a top, an apertured burner plate beneath said top, a pair ot burners respectively disposed adjacent said apertures, one of 'said burners being adapted to permit thepassage therethrough of a substantial volume of air'and the other burner being substantialb7 closed `against the passage of air, means adjacent and'beneath the First-,mentioned burnerfor permitting'passage of air `it'rom the exterior of the range to said burner, a baking oven positioned above, at one `side of and adjacent the second-mentioned burner, a flue beneath said oven communicating With the space betiveenthetop and the burner plate, and means in the ivalls of'said oven adapted to permit the entrance thereto of products of combustion and heated gases passing from .saidburners into said flue.

5. A. gas-range comprising a top, an aperturedfburned plate positioned beneath said top, a plurality of main burners arranged adjacent said apertures, one ofsaid burners being adapted yto permit the passage of asubstantial volume of air therethrough, and the other burner being substantially closed against the passage of a substantial volume oi air therethrough, means beneath 'said hist-mentioned burner adapted to admit aiiut'hereto, an oven disposed abovefand Yto oneside of the second-mentioned burner,

a flue extending from the spacebetvveen the burner plate and the top to said oven, and anauxiliary burner disposed substantially at the end of the flue adjacent the main burners.

6. A Vgas range comprising a top, an apertured burner plate disposed beneath the top, a plurality of invertible main burners larranged adjacent said apertures, a broiler oven beneath said burners, means for admitting air through the Wall of said oven to support combustion in said burners, a baking oven disposed above and at one side of said burners, a flue extending from the space between the top andsaid burner plate to said oven, and an auxiliary burner disposed in said'flue substantially at the end thereof adjacent the main burners.

7. A gas range con'iprising` a top, an apertured burner plate disposed beneath the top, main burners arranged adjacent said apertures and adapted for inversion, means for ladmitting air through one of said burners and in the space between thetop and the plate to support combustion at both of said burners. an oven chamber disposed above and to one side ot said burners, an oven disposed .in said chamber and spaced fromvthe Walls thereof, a smoke pipe.communicating with said chamber, a ilus beneath said oven and communicating with the space between the top and the burner plate, auplurality of vports in the oven ivall, and means for diieot ing the gases and products of combustion either directly from said flue to said smoke pipe or through the ports in the walls of said oven.

'8. A gas range comprising a top, an aperturedb'urnerplate spaced `beneath said top, invertible burners disposed adjacent said apertures. a broiler oven beneath saidburners, means in the Wall ot said oven for admitting air to one burner for supporting conibustion` at botlinburners, an ovenchain ber above and at one side of said burners,

an oven disposed in said' chamber and spaced from the walls thereof, a plurality of ports in the lower part of the walls of said oven, a flue eomi'nunicating with said portsand with the space between the top and the burner plate, a smoke pipe at the upper part of said oven chamber, and means in said chamber operative to direct the gases and products of combustion generated in said burners either through said ports into the oven or directly to said smoke pipe through the space surrounding said oven.

9. A gas range comprising a top, an apertured burner plate spaced beneath said top, invertible burners disposed adjacent said apertures, a broiler oven beneath said burners, means in the wall of said oven for admitting air to one burner `-for supporting combustion at both burners, an oven chamber above and at one side ot' said burners, an oven disposed in lsaid chamber and spaced lrom the walls thereof, a plurality of ports in the lower part of the walls of said oven, a flue communicating with said ports and with the space between the top and the burner plate, an auxiliary burner disposed in said flue, a smoke pipe at the upper part ofsaid oven chamber, and means in said'chamber operative to direct the gases and products of combustion generated in said burners either through said ports into the oven or directly to said smoke pipe. through the space surrounding said oven.

10. In a gas range, the combination of a top, an apertured burner plate disposed beneath and spaced from said top, a burner disposed adjacent each aperture in said plate, one of said burners being arranged to prevent the passage of a substantial volume of air therethrough and another of said burners being arranged to permit the passage therethrough of a substantial volume of air, a broiler oven beneath said burners and means in the walls o't said oven for admitting air thereto to support combustion at both of said burners.

Q11. In a gas range, the combination ot' a top, an apertured burner plate spaced below said top, a burner substantially closing one of said apertures, a burner only partially closing another of said apertures, a closed chamber beneath said burners, and means in the wall of said chamber for admitting air to support combustion at both oi said burners.

12. In a gas range, the combination of a top, an apertured burner plate spacedbelow said top, ya'burner arranged adjacent each aperture in the plate, one of said burners being arranged to permit the upward passage of air therethrough in a substantial volume and another of said burners being closed against the passage of a substantial volume of air therethrough, a closed chamber beneath said burners, and means in the wall ot said chamber for admitting air thereto whereby in the operation of the range the air passing from said chamber through said first-mentioned burner is raised in temperature and thereafter, passing through the space between the top and the burner plate, is additionally heated at said second burner.

A gas range having end walls, a rear wall, a top adjacent one ot the end wallsv` an oven spaced above the top and adjacent the other end wall, a burner plate spaced beneath said top, an inclined plate extending from the rear edge of the burner plat(` to the rear wall of the range beneath said top, and a flue having an upwardly inclined bottom extending from the space between the top and the. burner plate to the oven.

14. AV gas range having end walls and a rear wall, a top adjacent one of the end walls and extending to the rear wall, an oven above the top and adjacent the other end wall, a horizontally disposed burner plate spaced beneath the top, and upwardly inclined plate extending from the rear edge of the burner plate to the rear wall of the range and spaced beneath the top, and au upwardly inclined flue plate extending from a sideedge ot the burner plate to the side wall of the range adjacent the oven and forming the bottom of a fiue extending beneath the oven.

15. The method ot' supplying air to support combustion at the burners of a gas range employing a plurality of burners which consists in conducting the air for all the burners through a common inlet, thence over one ot the burners and thence over the other burners in succession whereby the same air is successively heated by the several burners.

16. The method of supplying air to support combustion at the burners of a gas range employing a plurality of burnersr which vcomprises the steps of causing the air to be drawn through a con'unon inlei` and thence successively passed over the several burners toward a common outlet whereby the air is progressively heated by the dif ferent burners.

17. The method of supplying air to supportl combustion at the dill'erent burners ol a gas range which includes the steps of ad mitting the air through a common inlet. causing the air to pass upwardly through one of the' burners and thence progressively over the other burners to a. common outlet whereby the air is progressively raised in temperature by the several burners in its passage thereover.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set. my hand this 11th da of September, 1922.

JOH EDGAR HIRES. 

